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Police Briefs 11/2/17

Posted
Wednesday, November 1, 2017 12:00 pm

Muhammad Benbenu

Terry Dawson

James Weldon

Jane Grote

John Macedo

Emily Johnson

Khiry Lindsey

Clay County Sheriff's Office

Park West shooting suspects nabbedORANGE PARK – Two Jacksonville men were arrested after attempting to rob a woman after shooting her and another man in the legs. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Muhammad Abdullah Benbenu II, 18, and Terry Da’Imon Dawson, 19, on Oct. 26 after they attempted to rob a woman before Dawson opened fire on the woman and a man with a handgun he was carrying. The two men were taking a woman home from Orange Park Mall, but passed her residence before stopping in the Park West subdivision near Orange Park High School. The woman was then threatened with a gun and asked to turn over her cellphone to the two men, pulling her to the ground and punching her in the face.She refused and activated an alarm on her phone, then, fearing for her life, she ran away from the truck. Eventually she made it to a house and began knocking on the door calling out for help. A man came to the door, and at that point Dawson shot about 10 rounds into the home, according to the report, hitting the woman twice and the man once. Following their arrest, deputies transported the men to the Clay County Jail where they are both being held without the option for bond. Both men face a felony for armed robbery, and Dawson faces three additional felonies for attempted murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and shooting into a dwelling. They are both set to appear in court on Nov. 22.

Former pastor arrested for domestic abuseFLEMING ISLAND – A former Fleming Island Presbyterian Church pastor was arrested for domestic battery after allegedly choking his wife.The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested James Richard Weldon, 55, on Oc. 28 after he choked his wife and smashed her head into the kitchen counter.According to the police report, the fight began as an argument between Weldon and his wife, but escalated when he got out of his chair and cornered her in the kitchen where she was cooking. After trapping her in the corner of the room, he began yelling in her face and eventually spit in her face. Police said she tried to push him away and he started choking her with both hands. The force of his choking caused her to hit her head on the kitchen counter before falling to the floor. Using kitchen tongs, she tried to fight Weldon off and eventually got away, throwing a pan of brownies at him. After escaping the home, she called police.Following his arrest, Weldon was transported by deputies to the Clay County Jail and has since been released.

Woman faces drug trafficking chargeGREEN COVE SPRINGS – A Middleburg woman was arrested on drug charges during a traffic stop in Green Cove Springs. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jane Margaret Grote, 32, on Oct. 30 after she was found in possession of multiple drugs and drug equipment. Deputies stopped an SUV on State Road 16 near Springbank Road after watching the driver cross over the center line, and, on a tip, called in a K9 unit to investigate the vehicle for drugs. Deputies were able to find two different types of pills in addition to almost 23 grams of methamphetamine in Grote’s purse or under her seat, and found syringes and small bags typically used for holding drugs in her purse. Under Florida law, 14 grams or more of methamphetamine is trafficking, not simple possession. Grote was arrested at the scene and transported to the Clay County Jail. She faces multiple felonies for trafficking meth and narcotics, in addition to misdemeanors for marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. She has not been given the option for bond and will appear in court on Nov. 22.

Teen faces molestation chargeMIDDLEBURG – A Middleburg man was arrested on a warrant for allegedly molesting an eight-year-old boy.The Clay County Sheriff’s Office arrested John Anthony Macedo, 19, on Oct. 30 after a warrant had been issued for his arrest on October 25. According to the warrant, Macedo, 18 at the time, was visiting a friend’s house and was alone with his friend’s eight-year-old brother. Police said, Macedo exposed his genitalia and had the boy touch it. Macedo then touched his genitals to the boy’s buttocks without penetration, according to the arrest report.Macedo was transported to Clay County Jail after his arrest and is being held on $150,000 bond. He faces a felony for lewd or lascivious molestation and is set to appear in court on Nov.22.

Car kills pedestrian in Keystone HeightsKEYSTONE HEIGHTS – The Florida Highway Patrol reports that a 64-year-old Keystone Heights man was killed Oct. 27 while walking in the eastbound lane of County Road 214.Police said Alfred E. Griggs was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical technicians in the crash that took place near the intersection of 5th Avenue.FHP said Griggs was struck by a 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora driven by Rachel Bellman, 22, also of Keystone Heights.FHP did not disclose whether charges are pending.

Woman charged with water theftGREEN COVE SPRINGS – An Orange Park woman turned herself in to authorities last week after learning police had obtained a warrant for her arrest.Emily Amber Johnson, 37, was booked at the Clay County Jail on Oct. 26 on one count of tampering with public utilities and theft of service.According to the warrant, the investigation began on June 23 when an employee with the Town of Orange Park called police to a home at 660 Corduroy Court that was getting its water piped in from the house next door at 664 Corduroy Court.“He advised the Town of Orange Park only uses pipe that is gray in color and the pipe linking the two together is white,” states the warrant. “He advised the residents living at 660 Corduroy Ct. were drawing water from 664 Corduroy Ct’s water lines at this time.”The next day, police interviewed Johnson about the water misappropriation, however, her comments are redacted from the warranted provided to Clay Today.Police apparently interview Johnson again on July 23 and read her her rights, but did not detain her. According to police, Johnson “began crying” when questioned by police in July, but her statement is redacted.Johnson was booked and later released on $1,502 bond.

U.S. Marshals make drug arrestORANGE PARK – An Orange Park area man faces two drug possession charges after being arrested by a U.S. Marshal’s task force and Clay authorities.According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office report, “all occupants inside the household were removed from the house and detained” during the Oct. 26 arrest that took place at 4:37 p.m. in the 3000 block og Hickory Glen Drive.A pat down of Khiry Aurian Lee Lindsey, 25, led to one charge of heroin possession and a second charge of MDMA possession.Police said they seized two pills that field-tested positive for ecstasy, or MDMA, and a piece of tin foil containing heroin.At press time, Lindsey remained in the Clay County Jail with bond set at $10,006.